Kroger Names Greg Foran New CEO
The Kroger Co.’s board of directors has appointed Greg Foran as the company’s new CEO and a member of the board, effective immediately. Foran takes the helm from Interim CEO Ron Sargent, who has served as Kroger top executive since Rodney McMullen abruptly stepped down from the position in March 2025.
Sargent will continue to serve as chairman of the board, with Kroger expected to provide an additional update on the leadership transition during its March 5 earnings call.
"Greg is a highly respected operator who knows how to run large-scale retail businesses, strengthen store execution, and lead high-performing teams," said Sargent. "His leadership style, focus on the customer, commitment to associates, and disciplined approach to execution are the perfect fit for Kroger. The board is confident Greg is the right leader to guide Kroger into its next chapter."
Foran is a corporate veteran with more than 40 years of experience. He oversaw a massive turnaround and digital acceleration as CEO of Walmart U.S. from 2014 to 2019, and most recently served as CEO of Air New Zealand.
"Kroger is one of the most dynamic companies in retail," said Foran. "The company is built on a strong foundation, supported by a talented leadership team, and caring associates who are dedicated to the customers and communities they serve. At this moment in Kroger's journey, I can honestly say this is the best job on the planet. I look forward to working with the board and the entire team to build on this momentum, continue raising the bar for customers, and deliver long-term value for customers, associates, and shareholders."
Former Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen resigned from the top position in March 2025 after an internal investigation into his personal conduct, and following the grocer’s failed merger with Albertsons. Kroger emphasized at the time that McMullen’s alleged breach of corporate ethics was not related to the business, including its financial performance, operations, reporting or talent.
Cincinnati-based Kroger employs nearly 420,000 associates who serve more than 11 million customers daily through an e-commerce and store experience under a variety of banner names. The grocer is No. 4 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2025 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America. PG also named Kroger among its Retailers of the Century.
This article was originally published by P2PI sibling brand Progressive Grocer.
